Since the medium was first introduced in Singapore in 1963, television has been constantly evolving from analogue to digital to interactive, to keep up with technological developments.

The MDA takes a proactive role in encouraging the growth of the TV industry. To do this, it has established various guidelines to ensure high programme standards as well as create opportunities for growth. The MDA also welcomes public feedback on TV programming and encourages active parental involvement in influencing children’s television viewing choices and habits.

The development of Singapore’s media industry incorporates focus on three key planks – people, ideas and technology. Hence, the country’s keen interest in ground-breaking, state-of-the-art developments and rollouts in the area of broadcasting technology. One of these new technologies is digital TV, which is the complete digitisation of TV signals from transmission to reception. The MDA sees digital TV as an exciting and dynamic medium and has adopted the European DVB-T (Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial) standard, which is the standard adopted by many countries worldwide.

MediaCorp TV Singapore Pte Ltd has begun simulcasts of Channels 5, 8 and Channel News Asia using Mdigital. In addition, TVMobile Pte Ltd became the first broadcaster in the world to deliver commercial digital TV programmes on public transport since February 2001.

The MDA encourages the development of innovative applications that will further enhance the potential of digital TV. To this end, the MDA has established a Digital Broadcasting Development Fund to support the development of digital content and services. In addition, the MDA collaborates closely with the National Digital TV Committee to bring about the successful deployment of digital TV in Singapore.

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The history of subscription TV in Singapore began in June 1995 when StarHub Cable Vision (SCV) was licensed to establish a nationwide broadband cable network by end-1999. SCV completed the construction of its S$500 million network in September 1999 and today offers multi-channel cable television and fast Internet via a cable modem service. Homes in Singapore can also receive six terrestrial free-to-air channels via the cable points provided, and without subscribing to a cable television service.

SCV was granted exclusivity in the provision of subscription television services until June 2002 in recognition of its nationwide cabling effort.

Recognising that the fundamental difference between Free-To-Air TV and subscription TV is the audience reach, the Subscription TV Programme Code (PDF/131KB) was created to provide subscription viewers with greater viewing choice. The Subscription TV Programme Code is a classification system that allows premium channels to carry programmes with mature content, themes and scenes. These programmes are rated “16” and “18”, suitable for viewers 16 and 18 years old and above respectively. The ratings enable viewers to able to enjoy a wider range of programmes, while also providing help for parents in guiding and determining their children’s viewing choices and habits.

For more programme choices, viewers can also subscribe to various Video-On-Demand (VOD) services. The VOD Programme Code (PDF/312KB) applies to programmes offered on VOD services.

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